You may wonder why Capricorn season corresponds with two of the biggest celebrations of the Western calendar year: Christmas and New Year’s Eve. And across different cultures, societies, and ethnicities many more celebrations occur during this time of year. So what is it about the Saturn-ruled, stoic goat that hints at anything but coldness, dryness or despair. Or in pop Astrology terms—the workaholic. Seems more like Sagittarius’ job to impart the gifts of conviviality. Centaurs were known, after all, for their rowdy parties, excess, and disregard for manners. Sounds suspiciously similar to the type of audience you’d encounter at a bar or club on New Year’s Eve, and the materialism you witness during Christmas. But it may surprise you to know that these correspondences are no accident, and rather point to a side of Capricorn rarely ever talked about: the joyful and giving party animal. Let’s look briefly at Saturn, Capricorn’s ruler.
Our modern Christmas bears historical similarities to the ancient Roman festival, Saturnalia. Held in honor of the god Saturn and on the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia, a week-long extravaganza, had all the typical signposts of the holiday season we know today: partying, gift giving, and masses of food. Plus, slaves were freed for the day, given agency to act how they pleased, and moral misgivings were not only forgiven, but encouraged (i.e. gambling). Some even describe the day as distinctly Mardi Gras (named after the planet, Mars—but that’s another topic for another day!) in nature, with chaos bleeding through the streets. People dressed as crazily as they could, played raunchy games and chased people around. All this plus a bevy of booze. How, you ask, does this debauchery relate in any way to Saturn, Saturn who we know to preside ominously over law, order, and integrity?
In Roman mythology, Saturn was said to rule over The Golden Age, a time of abundance and equality. Agriculture, and the seasonal structure of crop and bounty were taught to the Romans by Saturn. Saturn also gave them laws and societal structure, but not under the pretense of rigidity. Saturn was not tyrannical. Rather, Saturn established order, that there is a time and place for everything—including fun. And so in talking about Saturn’s rules and rigors, we must also acknowledge its lighter side, the satisfaction achieved through meeting those rules and rigors, and the justified celebration of a job well done. Here, Saturn is not like Jupiter, giver of gifts just for the sake of it, or excess in excess. Saturnalia was limited to a seven days. This should sound familiar—Saturn restricts. But our modern view of Saturn leaves out the grace periods, seeing it only as an energy of work or hardship, unending. Saturnalia reframes this bias—where Saturn is measured and practical, so is it practical that life should be enjoyed. Work hard, play hard—that is optimal balance. We can see this concept mirrored through our understanding of The Saturn Return. A period of hard work and stress is then rewarded, usually through a sobered maturity, status, accomplished goals, economic gain or heightened responsibility—all things that serve to enrich life and make it more enjoyable, even if in the long run. And have you ever thought about the spelling of Saturday? It is Saturn’s day. Saturday can be a day of rest or leisure following the traditional Monday through Friday work week. (I get paid on Saturdays, thanks Saturn!). One last tidbit: the greeting during the festival of Saturnalia was “Io Saturnalia! Io, Io, Io!” Though yet proven, many believe this to be the root of Santa’s famous catchphrase, “Ho, ho, ho!” Could Saturn be Santa Clause? Maybe. Saturn does represent, in some ways, the energy of an old man tallying up whether you’ve been good or bad, and then rewarding you accordingly. Only now we can understand that Saturn doesn’t only give coals, but cherished gifts too.
Tied to the holiday season is also the idea of charity—being altruistic and spreading cheer, especially to people and communities of need. All this as the Sun makes its annual dalliance into a Saturn-ruled sign. The Scrooge? Think again. Saturn is concerned with equality and order, setting up structures (and safety nets) wherein outcasts (economic or otherwise) are brought out of the fray and into consideration. Giving to the needy, spreading happiness to the forlorn, spending time and energy on causes oft ignored the rest of the year-- these all speak to a Saturnian balance. So forget what you think you know about Saturn being the bad guy. His law and order often protect and serve those otherwise forgotten. And what good is holiday cheer if everyone hasn't the chance to be cheerful?
Related to the word Capricorn is capricious, given to fickleness, impulse, and unpredictability. Sounds distinctly un-Saturnian. Look at any video of a baby goat and you’ll see it prancing, frolicking, and jumping around, as if free from worry or care. But it is precisely this changeable nature that can give Capricorn their surprisingly sharp humor or infectious happiness. So why is depression the only part of the spectrum ever talked about? Jump deeper into the history of Capricorn and you find gems that confront our modern understanding. The Greek myth of Capricorn surrounds Pan, the God of the wilderness, music, always surrounded by nymphs. What a party. Pan did eventually turn himself into a sea goat, the horns of which were known as the cornucopia or “the horn of plenty”—another allusion to abundance, bounty and pleasure. In some versions of the myth, Pan was erotic and seductive, teaching his practice of personal sexuality and fulfilment to others. Capricorn, especially its ruler Saturn, are talked about now in ways that appear to limit sexuality and intimacy. But let’s not forget that Capricorn is an Earth Sign, and particularly susceptible to sensuality in all forms. Statistically, sex in couples peaks during December and January—Capricorn season (northern hemisphere). In Babylonian Astrology, Capricorn was known as the Goatfish, and had affinity with benevolent deities, one of which was called “the granter of requests”, a quality you’d hope for when making a Christmas or New Year’s resolutions list, and a quality we all imbue when giving Christmas gifts. Moreover, this Goatfish invented arts and crafts, and gave civilization modalities through which to enjoy and celebrate life.
Capricorns are said to age backwards. Born as old, serious and studious souls and eventually aging into childhood: play, joy, mischief. So always inherent in Capricorn is the propensity for pleasure and amusement. Even the presence of Saturn in our natal charts ferments and softens over time, or, let’s loose! So while the serious and hardworking, or even melancholic and sacrificial, side of Capricorn prevails and is correct, all things exist in polarity. Capricorn also brings the party, and corresponds astronomically to the point in time where the Sun starts to gain light. So look closely at the Capricorns in your life. You may find you can take some pointers from them about how to have fun and enjoy. And if you carry heavy Capricorn energy yourself—make like the solstice and lighten up! You may find it easier than you think.